#174 In-Demand Entrepreneurial Skills Every Teen Needs with Stephen Carter

Flourish Coaching

May 13, 2025

In this episode, Lisa and Stephen discuss:

Entrepreneurial mindset development for comprehensive student growth
Career readiness beyond traditional educational frameworks
Soft skills as critical professional success indicators
Family’s strategic role in cultivating adaptive thinking skills

Key Takeaways:

Entrepreneurial skills can be intentionally developed through a framework of four interconnected pillars: growth mindset, grit, redefining failure, and seeking opportunities, all of which reshape how students approach challenges and growth.
Embedding student-run business experiences within schools creates a powerful learning model that equips students with practical skills, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving beyond traditional academics.
The idea of “follow your passion” is misleading, as true passion is cultivated through skill-building, consistent practice, and long-term commitment.
Crafting a clear family mission and defined core values empowers teens with resilience and a decision-making framework for navigating personal and professional challenges.

“We’re not just churning out entrepreneurs. We are helping students think like entrepreneurs. So, this was about compiling, condensing, and then really synthesizing.” – Stephen Carter

About Stephen Carter:

Stephen Carter is the Director of Entrepreneurship at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, where he oversees a nationally recognized program with fifteen elective courses, a full certificate track, and six supporting student-run businesses.

Stephen is also the founder of Seed Tree Group, where he works with K-12 Christian schools to develop entrepreneurial programs based around the model of redemptive entrepreneurship.

His mission is to develop the entrepreneurial mindset in all learners, so they are radically transformed to impact their lives. His book, Teaching the Entrepreneurial Mindset, details the impact made on learners when they are given real-world, practical skills and a clear path to success.

Episode References:

Grit by Angela Duckworth: https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-book/
Carol Dweck on How Growth Mindsets Can Bear Fruit in the Classroom: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/dweck-growth-mindsets
Career Development Readiness Quiz: https://flourishcoachingco.com/quiz

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career…(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video